Thanksgiving is just around the corner and if you have an elderly loved one to care for, the last thing you want to be is ill-prepared when the holiday finally arrives. Before you know it, it’ll be time to carve the turkey and prepare all of the fixings and you won’t know what hit you. Celebrating the holidays with seniors doesn’t have to be a chore, though. There are plenty of ways you can continue caring for your elderly loved ones and family without burning yourself out and making sure that you enjoy yourself as well.
Tips for Caring for Your Elderly Loved One During Thanksgiving
Like every holiday, Thanksgiving is an extremely hectic time of year and for this reason, it can evoke a great deal of stress in people, especially for busy individuals who already have a lot of responsibilities on their plates. Caring for an elderly loved one on top of all of your regular duties and being expected to host a sizeable event can add a great deal of pressure to your already chaotic lifestyle if you let it. However, by adhering to these tips for enjoying your holidays with seniors, you can eliminate a lot of the strain that often accompanies holiday preparations.
Practice Patience with Your Elderly Loved One
It may sound like a cliché, but the concept of patience being a virtue is especially true when it comes to planning and hosting small or large family events. The key to alleviating yourself of holiday-related stress is to practice patience with your elderly loved one and everyone else you come across and learn to take everything in stride. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but as long as everyone is having a good time and helping out, that’s what matters the most.
Plan for the Best, Prepare for the Worst
Try to plan as many fun activities for your family members and guests as possible without getting too carried away and try not to get too upset if not everything goes according to plan. Any time a large group of people gets together to celebrate an occasion, at least one thing is bound to go wrong or slightly derail the celebration. Don’t get bogged down by the little things and remember that you have every right to have as much fun as everyone else.
Accept Assistance from Others
By that same token, don’t be afraid to accept assistance from your other family members and friends who are in attendance. Surround yourself with good people who are ready and willing to help you in your time of need and share the responsibilities of caring for your elderly loved one with you. Releasing the reigns of control to other people isn’t always easy—especially when you’re used to doing all of the work yourself—but it’s important to allow others to help out every once in a while for the sake of your own sanity and health. That’s probably one of the best and most important tips for taking care of seniors on Thanksgiving.
At Home Care Assistance – Kitchener, Waterloo, and Guelph, we understand that in a lot of ways, the holidays can be a tough time for both seniors and their caregivers. That’s why we offer comprehensive and flexible senior care solutions in Waterloo, Guelph, and Kitchener, Ontario. Contact us to learn about the type of care and services we provide and how we can help you care for your elderly loved one.